The incident occurred shortly after 11 PM on Thursday, when the 47-year-old was struck and fatally injured by a truck during vehicle unloading. According to the Coast Guard, the ship AF Claudia had docked in Patras after arriving from Italy.

“While exiting the vessel, the 47-year-old was struck by the trailer of a truck that was reversing to unload cargo on the ship’s ramp. A coroner later arrived at the scene and confirmed her death. The body was subsequently transported by an ambulance to the University General Hospital of Patras, for a post-mortem examination,” stated the Coast Guard’s official release.

According to tempo24.news, a team from the Greek Maritime Accident Investigation Service (ELYDNA) is heading to the Port of Patras to investigate the cause of the tragic incident.

Panhellenic Seamen’s Federation: “Safety regulations are being repeatedly violated”

“It is deeply unfortunate that once again, the violation of safety measures across all areas of seafaring and maritime navigation has led to a fatal accident,” said the Panhellenic Seamen’s Federation (PNO).

“Unfortunately, it is an open secret that safety regulations and laws are routinely ignored, particularly during ship arrivals and departures, as well as during the loading and unloading of vehicles and passengers, and the stowage of vehicles in the ship’s garage,” they added.

Greek Communist Party: “The cause of the tragic death must be investigated, and safety measures on ships must be enforced”

The Greek Communist Party (KKE) has submitted a parliamentary question to the Ministers of Shipping & Island Policy and Labour & Social Insurance regarding the incident.

“Once again, this incident highlights how policies prioritising the profits of shipowners and business conglomerates result in recurring workplace accidents, many of which are fatal, such as this one. In the pursuit of profit, the needs and lives of workers are sacrificed.

Particularly since the enactment of the anti-labour Law 4150/2013 and the subsequent ministerial decisions, working conditions for seafarers, especially on the Adriatic route, have dramatically worsened. Overwork, increased pressure, and reduced crew numbers have escalated in the name of competitiveness and the maximisation of profits for shipping companies. Just 25 days ago, the Patras Labour Centre warned that such conditions represent a grave risk to the safety of passengers, crews, and even the ships themselves.”

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